Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should develop, promote, and implement policies to slow global population growth by voluntary means.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 20, 2001

Mr. SAWYER (for himself, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. PELOSI, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. LUTHER, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. LANTOS, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. WYNN, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mrs. TAUSCHER, and Mr. FROST) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should develop, promote, and implement policies to slow global population growth by voluntary means.

Whereas rapid population growth and factors associated with such growth, including increased population density and movement and high rates of resource consumption and pollution, create serious social, environmental, economic, and health problems in the United States and abroad;

Whereas the people of the United States envision a world with a healthy environment, clean air and water, uncluttered land, ample open space, natural beauty, wilderness, and abundant wildlife, in which the dignity of human life is enhanced;

Whereas rapid population growth and factors associated with such growth degrade the Earth’s ecosystems on which all life depends;

Whereas rapid population growth increasingly depletes irreplaceable natural resources, including energy resources, and amplifies the contribution of rising energy consumption levels to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere;

Whereas wild habitats that shelter endangered plants and animals are giving way to excessive human activities and needs, resulting in an extensive loss of biological diversity;

Whereas reducing population growth rates helps developed and developing nations to provide for their people, allowing the poorest of nations to develop economically and participate in world trade;

Whereas slowing population growth would ease the strain on limited farmland caused by the need to feed the increasing number of malnourished people worldwide;

Whereas the right of families to choose both the number of children they hope to have and the timing of the births of those children is a fundamental human right;

Whereas at least 150 million couples worldwide who want access to reproductive health care services do not have such access;

Whereas each year approximately 600,000 women die of causes related to childbirth and pregnancy;

Whereas high quality, voluntary family planning prevents the need for abortions;

Whereas, although effective voluntary family planning programs at home and abroad have succeeded in slowing the rate of population growth, the world’s population continues to grow;

Whereas because of a continuing unmet need for voluntary family planning programs, unintended pregnancy remains a critical challenge;

Whereas the United States has the highest rates of unintended pregnancy, teenage pregnancy, and teenage childbirth in the industrialized world;

Whereas the world’s population currently exceeds 6,000,000,000 and is expected to rise by 1,000,000,000 in the next 12 years, a rate that cannot be sustained economically or environmentally;

Whereas the largest youth generation in history is entering the prime reproductive age group; and

Whereas rapid population growth significantly increases the difficulty and cost of solving social, economic, and political problems in the United States and around the globe and contributes directly and indirectly to the pollution and degradation of the environment: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the United States should develop, promote, and implement, at the earliest possible time, domestic and international policies necessary--

(1) to create a balance between the world’s human population and the natural environment that is sustainable over the long term; and

(2) to slow rapid global population growth by voluntary means consistent with human rights and individual conscience, thereby promoting the future well-being of the people of this Nation and of the world.

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